Italy 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Legal and corporate affairs director | METINVEST TRAMETAL & FERRIERA VALSIDER – Italian rerollers of Metinvest Group
Group legal and corporate affairs manager | CAREL Industries
Legal director head of m&a and corporate transaction | MSC
Head of legal, corporate, regulatory and antitrust affairs | Enel Group
Head of legal, regulatory and compliance affairs | ENI Plenitude
Chief legal, corporate affairs, and compliance officer | Lavazza Group
Head of legal, compliance & corporate affairs | System Logistics
Legal director and regional compliance officer | Hilti Italia
It has been an honour and a privilege to research and produce this year’s edition of The Legal 500: GC Powerlist Italy. Each edition offers the opportunity to spotlight the exceptional calibre of in-house legal professionals in the country, and this year has been no exception. What made this experience especially rewarding was not only the depth of legal insight shared, but also the openness, curiosity, and strategic thinking demonstrated by the general counsel we interviewed. Their contributions elevated this publication and reaffirmed its relevance to Italy’s fast-evolving legal and business landscape.
This year, a number of key themes emerged — among them, the growing alignment between legal functions and broader business strategy, and the increasingly proactive role that general counsel are playing in responding to complex socioeconomic shifts.
Simone Davini LL.M., General Counsel Italy at Deutsche Bank, shared an important and sobering perspective on one of the most pressing macroeconomic challenges Italy faces today:
“Italy is facing a deep demographic crisis, being one of the countries with the lowest fertility rates in the world… The population has not grown naturally since 2006, and immigration has not offset the decline… These factors contribute to an aging population, raising serious concerns about the long-term sustainability of the social security and healthcare systems and about the labor market: in fact, the tax-payers population shrinks, while the demand for public health services and pensions grows; on top of that, the overall workforce goes down, tanking the internal rate of productivity and the global output of the Italian economic system.”
This kind of strategic, systems-level thinking highlights the evolving role of general counsel—not just as legal experts, but as business-critical advisors with a firm grasp on the wider context in which their companies operate.
Equally important in today’s corporate environment is a focus on culture and inclusion. Lodovico Bianchi Di Giulio, Group General Counsel – Head of Legal & Compliance at BIP Group, described his department’s approach to fostering equity and belonging:
“In BIP Group’s Legal & Compliance Department, diversity and inclusion are naturally embedded: two-thirds of our team members are women. We place strong emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, while also assigning each team member challenging objectives that promote both personal and professional growth… I dedicate significant time to listening to team members’ feedback, responding thoughtfully to their needs, and fostering a supportive and respectful working environment.”
These reflections are just two among many that demonstrate how Italy’s top in-house counsel are helping to reshape corporate priorities—balancing legal risk with long-term value, and guiding organisations through uncertainty with vision, empathy, and clarity.
Within this edition, you will find a wealth of insights across a range of topics, alongside detailed profiles of the talented legal leaders who make up the 2025 GC Powerlist: Italy. I would like to express my deepest thanks to everyone who took part. It is with great pride that I present this edition—celebrating the integrity, resilience, and leadership of Italy’s most outstanding in-house legal professionals.
Margherita Birri
Research Editor
Legal 500
On October 2, Legal 500 returned to Copenhagen to host the highly anticipated GC Summit: Denmark 2025 at the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel. The event brought together prominent voices from the legal and business communities to explore the evolving role of in-house counsel in a rapidly shifting global landscape.
The day began with opening remarks from Legal 500’s editorial lead, Francisco Castro, who welcomed attendees and set the tone for the summit. He emphasised the importance of convening the corporate counsel community to engage in meaningful dialogue around the pressing challenges – and emerging opportunities – facing legal teams today.
The first panel delved into crisis management strategies for legal departments. Hanne Marthine Frederiksen, partner at Poul Schmith, and Søren Søndergaard, director at Rud Pedersen, shared practical insights on early risk detection, cross-functional coordination, and post-crisis recovery planning. The discussion underscored the growing expectation for legal teams to lead during periods of uncertainty and equipped attendees with actionable tools to enhance organisational resilience.
The second panel focused on regulatory reform, specifically the EU’s Digital Omnibus proposal and anticipated changes to the GDPR and NIS 2 Directive. Marlene Winther Plas and Christian Wiese Svanberg from DLA Piper Denmark, joined by Heidi Warm from the firm’s Brussels office and Tina Dorthe Nielsen, senior legal counsel at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, offered a practitioner’s perspective on navigating evolving data protection and cybersecurity legislation. The panel highlighted areas where simplification could benefit businesses and improve compliance outcomes.
After a short coffee break, the conversation turned to the insurance industry’s response to emerging global risks. Medea Solevad Plesner, legal director at Kennedys, Anja Deleuran, senior insurance manager at Carlsberg, Thomas Brenøe, director at Insurance and Pension Denmark, Lars Søhøj, financial lines underwriter at Zurich, and Jonas Spangsberg Svensson, attorney at The RiskPoint Group, explored how climate change, geopolitical instability, and the rise of consumer-led class actions are reshaping corporate risk profiles. The panel examined implications for claims handling and the future of insurance solutions across cyber, product liability, property, and D&O.
The final panel of the day addressed how legal teams can position themselves as strategic business partners. Moderated by Francisco Castro, the session featured John F. Kuckleman, group general counsel at Novo Nordisk, and Pia Ullum, legal vice president at Dell Technologies. Both speakers shared compelling examples of how in-house counsel can align more closely with business objectives, demonstrate measurable value, and build influence across the C-suite. The discussion highlighted the shift from reactive legal support to proactive leadership and commercial insight.
To close the event, Francisco Castro thanked all speakers and attendees for their contributions and engagement throughout the day. He reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to supporting the in-house legal community through high-impact events and thought leadership. Guests were then invited to enjoy refreshments and informal networking, providing a relaxed setting to continue conversations and forge new connections.
